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To the casual observer, it might look like Republicans are ready to raise taxes; the likes of John Boehner, Bill Kristol, and Bob Corker have all hinted as much. But Grover Norquist isn't worried, observes Dana Milbank at the Washington Post, dubbing him, "the party’s Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." Norquist recently said it was a "fantasy" that Republicans would forsake his anti-tax pledge, and that he was all but certain Obama would "have to extend the tax cuts as is."

"The simple conclusion would be that Norquist … had been on a long trip in a remote location," Milbank writes. Norquist predicted that Romney would win easily. Instead, Norquist is frantically telling Republicans that Barack Obama doesn't really have a mandate to raise taxes on the wealthy—despite exit polls showing voters support that. "You can get, 'If there were unicorns, what color would you like?' answers from voters," he explains. Sure. "Also, a dog ate Norquist's homework," Milbank quips. Read the full column here. (Read more Grover Norquist stories.)